Thread by @EmilyTav

A few thoughts on the @DeptVetAffairs Secretary's recent interview with @COPublicRadio. As a former USDSer at the VA, I feel compelled to speak up here.

Thread... 1/

Re: USDS report Wilke says: "Well, I will refute everything in that report. That’s an interesting report that was done without discussing any of the issues with any senior leader at the Department of Veterans Affairs..."

Um, no. USDS only does those when asked to. Nice try. 2/

He also says: "For an outfit that’s supposed to be all about technology, about 90 percent of that report was about policy, which I think if you look at their charter, they were not competent to do."

Right. BECAUSE THAT'S THE !#$%ING PROBLEM: policy, people, process. 3/

Institutional problems are at the heart of government's IT problems. That's mostly (1) policies, (2) people, (3) processes.

People at USDS spend an unbelievable amount of time untangling that mess in order to deliver what is actually not very complicated tech. 4/

USDS has delivered enormous value to #veterans and to the @DeptVetAffairs in just a handful of years. And not alone--w/ dedicated civil servants at the VA who just want to do better by Veterans, beyond the politics. 5/

They've saved VA upwards of $100 million 6/

medium.com/the-u-s-digita…

They've *ACTUALLY* put Veterans at the center of the work. 7/

medium.com/the-u-s-digita…

veteranusability.us

They worked with VBA to prevent a meltdown of the appeals process when it became clear that the existing electronic system for tracking and processing disability claims would be unable to keep up with the w law’s requirements. 8/

federaltimes.com/it-networks/20…

They worked with OPIA and IT to launch a "single front door" at va.gov. One that is easier to navigate + use + gave users that ability to change their address information online, which could previously only be done via phone. 9/

federaltimes.com/it-networks/20…

They helped launched this magical thing developer.va.gov, which has been a labor of love by Drew Myklegard and the VA's new CTO. 10/

These are things many have tried to do at VA in the past.

Time and again USDS has delivered high-quality work that the VA would otherwise be paying millions for. And they are all there for one reason and one reason only: to deliver better digital services to Veterans. 11/

USDS has a mantra: Find the truth. Tell the truth.

Sounds like this admin doesn't want to hear it.

The sad thing is... who will end up paying the price for decisions driven by politics and PR? Veterans. And they deserve better. End/

**correction: BVA not VBA